Lackland (Read 1,072 times)

:salute

I spent three hours at Lackland AFB this after-noon.

It was the first time I was on Lackland since February 1952, when I had my first ten days of Basic Training, before moving to Shepherd Field to complete Basic.

I remember very little about Lackland from 1952.

The base has changed.

A lot.

When I was there, we “lived” in 12-man tents, with wood panel sides about four feet up the canvas, which could be rolled up to give some air. There was an oil stove in the middle of the tent, on a sheet metal plate, to give heat. The floor was plywood, and we had to keep it clean.

That meant we also had to keep our shoes clean.

Why the concern about the shoes?

The tents were in a field, with wooden “duck walks” going from each tent to a central walk, the took us to the latrine and the road.

It was February, a month known for rain in Santone.

You can imagine the mud from thousands of brogans marching through it.

We were issued our uniforms, and a duffel bag to put them in.

They are still issued duffel bags, but not like ours.

To-day, we were on Lackland for a special purpose.

Our grand-daughter from Nevada was on base to see her beau graduate from Basic.

She rode from Nevada with his parents, grandmother and dog.

I'm not sure why the dog came on the trip..

Our grand-daughter is going to stay with us for a couple of days, and we will take her to the airport for her flight back to Vegas.

I was amazed at the high level of modern buildings, and more going up, on Lackland.

Some of the BMT “barracks” are above ground, with a concrete area on ground level for drilling when it rains.

We just put on our rain coats.

They no longer have the two-story, open-bay barracks.

Nope, not a bit of it.

The "dorms" are air-conditioned and heated.

No one has to shovel coal to keep the boiler going.

There are some new squadron size dorms being built.

I guess all of that is fine.

But I wonder why the pampering is needed.

The boy friend told me that they no longer pulled KP, but did have to help on the serving line. At least a couple of times.

He said they started with 58 troops in his flight, and ended with 53.

We started with 80 and ended with 80.

Suicide attempts, some successful, are a big problem.

If any of us had attempted to kill ourselves, the TI would have either kicked our butts for about a mile, or made sure we got it done.

The recruits train with some of the latest weapons the Air Force has.

He told me he had to spend about $300 for things required in Basic.

Even had to pay for their own haircuts, at $8.35 a pop.

As I recall, we were just marched to the barber shop every week. Waited on line. Got our selves scalped. Went outside, and back in to formation.

Cost?

I don't have the foggiest.

I don't remember ever paying for a haircut during Basic.

Maybe, just maybe, I did and don't remember.

It has been nearly 60 years.

The young men and women in basic, are allowed to go to the BX, but they have to march in formation going and coming. Whatever they bought, had to be carried in their left hand or put in their backpack, if they were allowed to wear the backpack.

Many of the graduates were in the BX and Food Court.

Like the boy friend, most were wearing Blues, in one form or another.

He chose to wear the full uniform, as it was a special day.

However, no Garrison Hat.

One thing has not changed in 60 years.

The young men and women undergoing Basic Training, look much like we did.

The fatigues are gone. Replaced by whatever they call them now.

The spit polished boots have been replaced by the new style desert boots.

There is still a degree of swagger and bravado.

But, they are still quick to call anything that moves Sir or Ma'am.

They quiet down when they are in mixed company, those who are older, or families, or higher ranking troops.

Seems like every door we walked through had an Airman holding the door for us.

They responded to our thanks with, your welcome Sir.

One thing that impressed me was the numbers of them.

Short, tall, white, black, brown, yellow, red.

They are the present generation of Patriots.

The boy friend is going the Vandenberg for school on big things that lift off from launch pads, or out of silos.

Leaves Santone at O Dark Thirrty.

Each of those budding Patriots is headed for future they don't know about.

They don't know what that future will hold, just like all of us when we were in Basic and then to Tech Schools.

Please pray for those who have chosen to be the ones who are following after us.

God Bless them and keep them.

Jim Too

:god_bless_usa